The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-09
pRuMMERs AND RAILROADS.
A Suggestion for Getting Around the
LAVA Hotel Syndicate.

Lava Hotel Syndicate.
From the st. Louis Republican.
Gen. Frank j. Jones, general agent
Traders and Travellers union of New
York, arrived in the city yesterday and
registered at the Planters. Gen. Jones
visits the west for the purpose of estab-
fishing branch Office in this city, and for
the further purpose OF making an attempt
to get an opinion from the interstate COM
merce commission as 10 the rights of COM
mercial travellers as far as excess OF bag
gage is concerned.
Heretofore the commission has refused
to pass upon our point" said he to a Re-
publican reporter. "Our proposition is
to charge each commercial traveller So 20
year; OF that amount 20 cents will
he charged for baggage plates, 81 for
membership and So for insurance of
800 pounds of baggage in the sum of
500. In our turn, the union proposes
to release the railroads from all liability
for damages on every account. We con-
tend, therefore, that ii the railroads are al
lowed TO transport 300 pounds OF baggage
Tor each man, il will not be discrimination
in favor OF drummers, but that the roads
will be getting an equivalent in the form
OF their release from liability. One of the
eastern roads. which had already made
contracts with our members, proposed to
live up to those contracts and to fight the
commission ii il objected. The commits
sion did not object in that case, however,
but put its acquiescencc on the ground
that it was simply an unexpired contract
that was being carried out, and failed or
refused to pass on the question whether
or not such an arrangement per sc Wa in
terdicted by the interstate commerce BILL"
"Iou think, then, that the reduced
rates to drummers will not be in conflict
with the law?" he was asked.
mo, because we are giving, as | said,
an equivalent in the release from liability
on account OF damages. ! am sure that ii
VIC get the commission TO pass upon he
matter at all, we shall win; il not before
the commission, before the supreme courts.
The supreme court has already decided
one great point for u.s. and that was the
requirement, under the laws OF some
States, that drummers take out q license
to sell goods. We had bill in Congress
to upset that hardship, but the supreme
court settled IL in passing upon an individ-
ual case. Two of the States still persist in
arresting men for selling without license.
and it is generally paid, because il is only
- or $40, aud payment Of that sum is the
cheapest way out Of the trouble. II any
one would test the matter we would win.
| ] am here, however, on another item
Of our business We have sys-
TEN OF hotel rates guaranteed us In
many cities, and it is 10 further this phase
OF our business that am here. We have
already $50 hotels throughout the country
in which our coupons are taken for cash.
We sell books OF coupons TO travelling men,
and the presentation OF those coupons TO
the hotels in payment Of board at once
identifies the traveller and entities him to
the rate agreed TO with US. Whenever We
issue book We are compelled TO deposit an
amount OF cash sufficient TO buy back the
coupons, in the Chemical bank OF New
York city. BY spring we expect to have
1000 OF these hotels, and TO I've able TO
furnish rates TO travelling men in all tho
cities and towns in which there are hotels"